Faith in the Dark: Carrying the Stretcher

There are moments in life where the pain is so crushing that we simply have no strength left even to look up to heaven. Maybe it was a terrifying medical diagnosis, the loss of a loved one, or a crisis that left one of you feeling completely empty inside. In those dark days, it is normal for one's faith to temporarily crack under the giant weight of tragedy.

Sometimes, in the midst of extreme suffering, your spouse runs out of words to pray. They might even feel anger, confusion, or the terrible sensation that God has left them completely alone in the boat. And I want to tell you something with all pastoral love: that is part of our broken humanity, and God is not intimidated by our doubts.

This is where Christian marriage shines with its purest and rawest beauty. Think about the biblical story of the paralyzed man. He couldn't walk to Jesus on his own; he was literally fully bedridden and strengthless. What happened then? His four friends took his stretcher, tore a hole in the roof, and lowered him right down to the feet of the Master.